Ski pole



R. B. LANGE ET AL April 1, 1969 SKI POLE Filed Aug. 16, 1966 SheetINVENTORS ROBE/P7 B. LANGE DAV/D JACOBS ATTORNEYS April 1969 R. B. LANGEET AL 3,436,090

SKI POLE Filed Aug. 16, 1966 Sheet 4? INVENTORS ROBERT B. LANGE DAV/DJACOBS RODERICK HEBRON ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofice US. Cl.280-11.37 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ski pole having amolded plastic elongated handle with upper and lower supportingprojections to provide support to the upper and lower surfaces of theskiers hand and a strap connected at one end to the upper supportingprojection and at the other end to the lower supporting projection sothat the strap together with the handle circumscribe the skiers hand.

This invention pertains generally to a ski pole and, more particularly,relates to a high-strength ski pole having a grip and strap whichcombine to reduce or substantially eliminate the loss of the pole by ahigh-speed skier.

A troublesome problem that even an accomplished skier has is that oflosing his grip on his ski pole during moments of unbalance caused byhigh speed, gymnastictype turns or bouncing caused by uneven terrain. Onconventional ski poles, the hand strap is merely a loop With both endsconnected to the top of the ski pole. The skiers hand fits through theloop to embrace the grip with the strap providing support at the wrist.Once the fingers relax and the grip is lost, it is very diflicult topull the pole back into the palm of the hand while maintaining hisforward motion.

Another problem presented by the present conventional ski pole is thatof pole failure due to either breakage or kinking caused by transversecontact with a sharp edge.

A principal objective of this invention is to provide means for manuallysupporting a ski pole with a minimum of physical or mental exertion onthe part of the skier.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a ski pole which has ashaft which is extremely resistant to breakage or kinking.

A further objective of this invention is to provide a ski pole which hasan adjustable hand strap with one end secured to the top and the otherend secured to the bottom of the grip.

A still further objective of this invention is to provide a ski polewhich has a grip which closely conforms to the shape of the inside ofthe closed hand and which has wide base and top support flanges.

A yet further objective of this invention is to provide an extremelylight but rigid ski pole which includes a hollow shaft filled withplastic foam.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art by reference to the following detaileddescription when Viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, whereinlike elements throughout the figures thereof are indicated by likenumerals and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ski pole;

FIGURE 2 is a side view partially in section of the upper portion of theski pole;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the ski pole handle;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the ski pole handle;

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the ski pole handle;

FIGURE 6 is a top view of a modification of the ski pole handle; and

3,436,090 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view takenalong the line 77 in FIGURE 6.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a ski polecomprised of a handle or grip portion 12, a strap 14, an elongated shaft16 and a snow engaging member 18. A sharpened snow penetrating point 20is formed on that end of the shaft 16 below the member 18.

The grip 12 is an elongated body having an enlarged upper end 22 and anenlarged lower end 24. A cylindrical projection 26 depends substantiallycentrally and downwardly from the lower end 24. The projection serves asa juncture by which the shaft 16 is attached. The grip 12 is of aunitary mass of molded plastic which has a variety of contoured fingerdepressions to provide the maximum amount of support for the users hand.

These contoured surfaces can generally be divided into a palm engagingor exterior side 28, a front side 30, a rear side 32 and an interiorside 34 nearest the skiers hip. Extending substantially horizontallyfrom the vicinity of the back side 32, around the interior side 34 tothe front side 30, are three ridges 36, 38 and 40. The upper and lowerflanges 22 and 24 of the grip 12 are formed with projections 42 and 44respectively. There are thus formed four valleys between the successiveprojections within which the four fingers of the hand will lie. When theski pole 10 engages the snow as for instance during a turn, downwardsupport surfaces 46, 48, 50 and 52 will provide individual support toeach of the four fingers. Conversely when jerking or otherwise liftingthe. ski pole 10 upwardly, the upward support surfaces 54, 56, 58 and 60will provide individual support for each of the four fingers. Theprojection 36 is more prominent than projections 38 and 40. The reasonfor this is because the strongest grip of the fingers is obtainedbetween the index and middle fingers. When engaging projection 36, theaforesaid fingers can exercise positive control of the pole even withoutthe use of the other fingers. No ski pole on the present market has thisfeature.

The thumb is also provided with individual support in either directionas it rests in the valley between support surfaces 62 and 64 immediatelybelow the flange 22. The projections and valleys of the grip 12 closelyconform to the contours of the inside of the closed hand. Although agrip made for the average sized hand will comfortably and effectivelyfit a wide range of hand sizes, different sized grips may be made tocover a selectively narrow range of hand sizes.

The palm of the hand engages the sides 28 and 32. A convex projection 66conforming to the contours of the hollow of the palm is located alongthe palm side 28. The main support to the palm and hand however, comesfrom the flange projections 42 and 44. The upper flange projection 42 iselongated on the back side 32 of the grip 12 in order to provide anenlarged support area above the V of the thumb and forefinger formaximum effectiveness during ski pole lifting. Similarly, the lowerflange 44 is formed to underlie the bottom edge of the palm and thusprovide the primary support thereto when pushing downwardly with the skipole.

The strap 14 comprises an upper strap portion 68 and a lower strapportion 70, which may be of leather, plastic or other material whichremains resilient through a wide range of temperatures. A conventionalslide buckle 72 is attached to the lower strap 70 and slidably receivesthe upper strap 68. The ends of the upper strap 68 and the lower strap70 are rigidly connected to the back side of the flanges 42 and 44 at 74and 76 respectively. The connections 74 and 76 are made by integratingthe strap ends into the flanges during the molding thereof.

The shaft 16 is comprised of a hollow tube 78 of resinous plastic or oflight metal such as aluminum. The inside of tube 78 is filled with afoam 80 such as polyurethane or other material light in weight but withhighcompression characteristics which when combined with a high tensileskin give a high degree of resistance to both bending and breakage. Theaddition of polyurethane foam gives the shaft 16 a tremendous amount ofstrength both axially and transversely and allows a wall thickness ofreduced size, over conventional ski poles. The shaft can thus belightened and still have a strength that is superior to poles of presentmanufacture. The top of the shaft 16 is recieved on the downwardprojection 26 of the grip 12 and is secured threadably, by a pressfitting, or other conventional means. The shaft is formed with a forwardbend at 82 relative to the grip 12 in order to allow easy forwardreaching with the ski pole by the skier with a minimum of effort. Ofcourse, it is readily understood that the same purpose may beaccomplished by leaving the shaft 16 straight and molding the dependingprojection 26 at a forward angle relative to the main portion of thegrip 12.

A modification of the connections 74 and 76 is provided in FIGURES 6 and7 wherein the upper end of the strap is looped over a pin 84. The. pin84 is received in a slot 86 in the grip 12 so as to restrain downwardmovement of the strap portion 68. Of course, the lower end of the strapis similarly looped over a similar pin so as to restrain upward movementof the lower strap portion 70. Obviously, the strap 14 need not be intwo pieces as shown, but may instead be formed of a single piece ofresilient material. By providing a strap which extends across the backof the hand from top to bottom and which is adjustable or resilient soas to snugly force the palm against the conforming grip 12, it ispossible to utilize the ski pole with a relatively relaxed hand andfingers. Losing a ski pole during even the most violent movements ofhigh speed skiing is well near impossible.

Although the preferred embodiment has shown the grip 12 and the shaft 16as separate components, it is contemplated that they may be molded as anintegral unit.

What is new and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A ski pole comprising:

an elongated shaft a flattened snow-engaging member adjacent the lowerend of said shaft,

a molded plastic elongated handle at the upper end of said shaft andfirmly aflixed thereto, and having front, rear and side faces,

said handle having supporting projections at the upper and lower endsthereof providing support to the upper and lower surfaces of the hand ofa user grasping the intermediate section thereof, the lower supportingprojection extending outwardly beyond the 4 front face and one side faceof the handle a distance sufficient to underlie fully the palm of the.hand of the user of the ski pole, the upper projection extendingoutwardly from the faces of the handle a distance sufficient to overlieboth the thumb and forefinger of the hand of the user of the ski pole,

a retention strap,

means for connecting a first end of said strap to the upper supportingprojection and a second end of said strap to the lower supportingprojection whereby, when the hand of a user grasps said handle, thestrap together with said handle can circumscribe the hand of the user.

2. The ski pole as described in claim 1 wherein means are provided toadjust the length of said strap.

3. The ski pole as described in claim 1 wherein said shaft and saidhandle are an integral plastic unit.

4. The ski pole as described in claim 1 wherein said shaft is hollow andfilled with plastic foam.

5. The ski pole as described in claim 4 wherein said shaft is a plastictube.

6. The ski pole described in claim 5 wherein said means further includesan opening formed in at least one of said projections, a pin spanningsaid opening and a loop at one end of said strap secured about said pin.

7. The ski pole as described in claim 1 wherein said shaft is angledrelative to sand handle.

8. The ski pole as described in claim 1 wherein said handle has aplurality of finger and palm supporting formations intermediate saidenlarged projections.

9. The ski pole described in claim 8 wherein said menas for connectingsaid strap are in said upper and lower projections.

10. The ski pole as described in claim 1 wherein said lower supportingprojection is an annular enlargement of the handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,085,814 4/1963 Scott 280-41373,179,435 4/1965 Miller 28011.37 3,265,401 8/1966 Spier 280l1.373,290,049 12/1966 McDonald 28O-1l.37

FOREIGN PATENTS 178,317 4/ 1954 Austria.

919,589 2/1963 Great Britain.

195,361 4/1938 Switzerland.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

